The Super Moon was quite a phenomenon this past week. If you were able to see it for yourself, or if you have seen any of the numerous stunning photos of it, you know why. Last week the moon was closer to Earth than it had been since 1948, and it won’t be that close again until 2034. And while the moon appeared larger than usual it, of course, was not actually larger. It merely appeared larger to us because it was closer. As we were all focusing our collective attention on this special moment in time, our collective appreciation for the beauty of the moon grew as well.
The celebration of Thanksgiving has a similar effect on me. Throughout the year, I try to always be mindful of people, places, and situations for which I am grateful, and I regularly focus on both feeling and expressing it. But when Thanksgiving comes around and I focus more intently on all that I am grateful for, gratitude appears a little larger than normal in my heart and soul, just as it does in our nation’s collective consciousness.

One of my favorite quotes about gratitude is by William Arthur Ward: ”Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” This is why I will be quite intentional about expressing my gratitude to my family, friends, and colleagues this next week.

Please allow me a moment to express here, as well, my heartfelt gratitude to each of you who reads this column and who supports the work of the Living Compass Wellness Initiative. Without you, this work doesn’t happen. I am immeasurably grateful for the collective attention you all give to the importance of nurturing wholeness and wellness in ourselves, our families, and our communities.

As we move toward the celebration of Thanksgiving, our gratitude may not in fact actually be larger, but hopefully our awareness and expression of that gratitude will. And just like the Super Moon this past week, that will be a beautiful thing.

After some time off for Thanksgiving, this column will return in two weeks.

About The Author:

The Rev. Dr. D. Scott Stoner, LMFT, has been a family therapist for thirty-five years, first in the Chicago area and then in Milwaukee. His focus is working with individuals, couples, men, and families. He is the co-director, with his wife Holly Hughes Stoner, of the Samaritan Family Wellness Foundation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The foundation’s focus is creating preventative wellness materials for adults, families, and teens. He is also the creator of the national Living Compass Wellness Initiative. Scott lives in Shorewood, Wisconsin, with Holly, and also has three grown children and two grandsons.